Folding high chair



1929. v H. A. WHITING ET AL 3 ,339

FOLDING HIGH CHAIR I Filed Jan. 25. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnva'vflo'cfi Harry Awhih'ng Charies J. Hughes Sadie J Maher Dec. 3, 1929. H. A. WHITING ET AL FOLDING HIGH CHAIR Filed Jan. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5s .mw 1T e G i SJ um r am w CS Patented Dec. 3, 1929 1,738,339"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. WHITING, CHARLES J. HUGHES, AND SADIE J. MAKER, OF ST. PAUL,

MINNESOTA FOLDING HIGH CHAIR Application filed January 25, 1928. Serial No. 249,285.

Our invention relates to high chairs and ing between the uprights of the lower frame has for its object to provide a high chair section a back rest adapted toswing outwhich may be readily and quickly collapsed wardly into a position to engage the back into a small compact space so as to permit of of a user or to be folded back between the upbeing easily carried about or to be packed rights of said longer frame section into the away in crowded quarters when not desired plane thereof to give support to the back of l for use. i the occupant in either an upright or reclining Another ob3ect of the invention resides 1n posture. providing a pair of frame sections each coma A feature of the invention resides in pro- In prising two spaced uprights connected toviding a foot restand in pivoting the same gether at their upper and lower ends, which to said frame sections at the hinge thereof, uprights are pivoted intermediate their ends said foot rest being arranged between the so as to permit the same to be swung into a uprights of the longer frame section and becommon plane or swung outwardly and exing adapted to swing into the plane thereof tended in crossed relation. when in disuse.

Another object of the invention resides Another object of the invention resides in in forming one of said frame sections longer attaching a strap to the tray adapted to be than the other and in hingedly connecting to threaded through an eye formed on said the upper portion of said shorter frame sectray and in providing a fastener on said strap tion a seat adapted to extend across said adapted to cooperate with a complemental p5 longer frame section and in further attaching fastening member secured to the seat for a support to said longer frame section on holding the tray immovable relative to the which said seat is adapted to rest when the seat when in operative position and to prechair is arranged in operative position, said vent the child from sliding off the seat.

seat being adapted to swing between the two A feature of the invention resides in olfframe sections when it is disengaged from setting the hinge connections of said tray said support. i and seat so as to cause the same to fold to An object of the invention resides in pivoteither side of the frame sections when in ing to said longer frame section a pair of collapsed position and in further providing arms embracing the same and extending toa second complcinental fastening member ata ward said shorter frame section and being tachcd to said seat and adapted to be engaged supported at their outer ends thereon, and by said strap fastener when said stra has further attachingto said arms a tray adapted been disengaged from said eye for hp ding to swing therewith over the upper end of said parts in collapsed position.

said longer frame section. WVith the foregoing and other objects in A feature of the invention resides in pivotview, which will appear in the following deally connecting to said arms a pair of downscription, the invention resides in the novel wardly extending slats and in attaching loops combination and arrangement of parts and to said seat for the reception of said slats for in th d tails of stru tion hereinaften 40 the purpose of closing the space between said described and claimed. frame sections when the same are in extended In the drawings: position, said slats being adapted to fold Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a high chair within said tray when the chair is in colembodying one form of our invention.

15 lapsed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the An object of the invention resides in pivotstructure shown in Fig. 1 with some: of the parts partiall folded back to illustrate the such'circumstances; Our'invention provides a simple and convenient high chair which may be quickly and readily collapsed to occupy a small space so that the same may be carriedin an automobile and, may be available wherever desired for the required purpose In addition, the chair when not desized for use'may be folded up and placed out: ofthe way where the same can at any time be erected when desired for instant use. Inthe form ofiour invention shown in Fig. 1, we employtwo frame sections 10 and 11 of which the frame section 10 comprises two uprights 12 and 13 connected together at vtheir; lowenends by means of a transverse cleat 14. Theframe section 11 comprises two uprights Hand 16 which are similarly coni ne'ctedtog'ether'at their lower ends by means 7 more stable when in erected position.

of acleat 17 andwhich are'connected together uttheirupper ends by means of a cleat 18. It will be noted that the cleat' 17 is attached as the uprightslS and 16 on one side thereof,

.whil'eithe cleat 18 is attached to the said uprights on the otherside thereof for a purpose' which will presently become apparent.

Thetwo-frame sections 10 and .11 are hingedly connected together intermediate their ends by means'of two pintles 19 which extend throughthe respective uprights 12 and 15 and theuprights 13 and 16. By means ofthese twoxpintles the two frame sections may befoldedinto a common plane or may be extendedin crossed relation, as best shown in gi 1. I At the lower end of said frame sec- 21 whichilimitthe: extended position of said frame sections andwhich permit of folding the-same into a common plane. The lower 'portions22, 23, 24 and 25 of the uprights 12, 13, 15 and 16 form legs for the chair and are preferably cutat the proper bevel so as to provide-a suitable'footing for the chair when is placed upon the floor. The uprights of the respective frame sections 10 and 1 1: are preferably flared outwardly along the lower portions thereof so as to make the chair 7 Between: the uprights 12. and 13 of the frame section 10is pivotally connected a seat 26'by'me'ans of hinges 27 which are arranged withthe axes thereof in offset relation to the plane of the seat so that when the seat is swung upon its hinges, the same may occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 or may be folded back into a plane parallel with the common plane of frame sections 10 and 11 when in collapsed position. The seat 26 extends rearwardly toward the frame section 11 and is carried at its rearward end upon a support 127 similar to the cleats 17 and 18 attached to the uprights 15 and 16 of said frame section. This seat rests freely upon said support and is held in operative position solely through the weight of the user. The seat serves to brace the upper ends of the uprights 12 and 13 to which it is pivoted.

As'will be noted in the drawings the frame section 11 is somewhat longer than the frame section 10 and extends upwardly beyond the same. Intermediate the seat support 27 and the cle'at 18 is pivotally connected between the uprights 15 and 16 of said frame section, a back rest 28 which is adapted to swing into extended position as shown in Fig. 1 or which may be folded back into the plane of the frame section 11 when desired. This back rest comprises two stiles 29 and 30 connected together by means of rails 31 and 32 having slat-s 33 positioned between the same for providing a suitable back support. Said back rest is pivoted to the frame section 11 by means of pintles 34 which pass through the uprights 15 and 16 and through the lower ends of the stiles 29 and 30 which project somewhat below the lower rail 32 for this purpose. At the upper portion of said stiles are'attached two knee braces 35 which limit the outward movement of said back rest and. permit the same to be folded into the plane of the frame section 11. lVith this construction it can readily be comprehended that the uprights of the various frame sections may be made substantially straight and that the distance between the forward portion of the seat 26 and the rearward part of the frame section 11 occasioned by the flaring of the two frame sections can be greatly reduced through the use of the said back rest so that the infant is properly seated upon the chair when the same is in operative position. Atthe same time by folding the back rest into the plane of the frame section 11 the infant may be supported in a reclining position. The cleat 18 previously referred to is so arranged relative to the back rest 28 that the same forms a suitable end support for said back rest when the same is folded. back into the plane of the frame section 11.

In conjunction with the seat 26 we employ a tray 36 which has attached to it two arms 37 and 38. These arms are arranged to straddle the two uprights 15 and 16 of frame section 11 and are hingedly connected to it by means of two pintles 37. The ends of said arms are preferably offset as indicated at 38, and'the' said arms are of such length as to permit the tray to be swung over the upper end of the uprights and 16 into a position upon the back of the frame section 11 lying in a plane substantially parallel with the common plane of the two frame sections when in collapsed positioinas best shown in Fi 3. For the purpose of closing thespace between the two frame sections and the arms 57 and 88 and seat 526, weemploytwo slats 39 and 40 which are pivoted at 41. and 42 to the arms 37 and 38 and which are adapted to extend downwardly and be received in loops 48 attached to the sides of said seat 26. These slats are so disposed that the same may be swung into the tray as illustrated in Fig. 2 so as to be enclosed within the same when the chair is fully collapsed. These slats prevent the infant from slipping sideways out of the chair and also serve to hold the tray 36 more rigidly in operative position.

For supporting the feet of the infant we employ a foot rest which is attached to two arms 45 and d6. These arms are hingedly connected upon the pintlcs 18 and 19 used for pivoting the two frame sections 10 and 11. The :loot rest i l may be swung into extended position as shown in Fig. 1 or the same may he swung into the plane of the frame section 11. For holding the said foot rest in extended position arms 4:5 and 46 are provided w cars l? which are adapted to engage stops d8 securet to the uprights15 and 16. This construction limits the downward movemerit of the footrest but permits the same to be swung upwardly and into the plane of the frame section 11. It will be noted that the arms and 16 are or such a length as to permit the same to swing ast the seat 16 when the said seat is elevated, as will be presently described. a

For the purpose of holding the tray 36 in lined position relative to the seat 26 we employ a strap 49 which attached to the underside of tl e tray near the central portion of the same. This strap adapted to be threaded through an eye 50 secured to the rearward part of the tray proper in a centrally disposed position between the arms 82" and and to be drawn torwardlyaround the forward edge 50 of the seat 26. Upon the underside of the said seat is provided a post 51 which serves as a complen'iental fastening member adapted to engage a fastoner 52 secured to the end of said strap l9. By means of this construction the tray is firmly held in place, the said strap being arranged between the legs oi? the infant so as to prevent him from sliding outwardly from the chair between the seat and tray thereof as well for holding the tray and seat in proper relative position.

In collapsing the chair the procedure is as follows The back rest 28 is first moved from its position as shown in 28 in dotted lines in Fig. 2and into the plane of the frame section 11 as shown in full lines in said figure at 28, the knee braces 35 being broken to permit of the taking of such position. The strap 49 is nen disengaged from the post 51 and the tray 36 moved from the position shown in dotted lines at 36 to that shown to bring the same within the space between the uprights 15 and 16 of the frame section 11. It will be noted when so folded that the said foot rest rests upon the seat support 27 which prevents the same from swinging outardly past the plane of said frame section. With the parts so arranged the knee braces 20 and 21 may next be broken and the two i'rame sections brought into a common plane. By moving the frame sections together, the tray 36 and seat follow so that the same lie flush with the said frame sections and in parallel planes thereto when the chair is fully collapsed. The arrangement oi the parts when fully collapsed. is shown in Fig. 3. For the purpose of holding all of the parts togethcr, the strap is utilized. This strap is first disengaged from the eye 50 and is drawn through the two liraiie sections 10 and 11 and the fastener 02 is applied to a post similar to the post 51 which attached to the rearmost portion of the seat 26. By the proper attachment of the strap to the seat the length of the same can be made such that the same strap serves to hold the parts in firm position when collapsed or to hold the tray immova ale relative to the seat when in extended position. Wh n collapsed, the entire chair occupies a minimum amount of space, as clearly shown in 3 and in ay be conveniently transported or stored in con lined space. In erecting the chair the procedure is exactly the reverse when it is collapsed, the strap l?) being finally attached t the underside of the seat by application to the post 51. 1

Our invention highly n'leritorious in that a simple and el'liective device is provided, whereby the chair may be quickly and easily collapsed or erected, as required. The chair may be constructed at a nominal. cost due to the fact that the same may be formed of straight pieces, thereby eliminating waste 01" wood or material used in the manufactur oi the same. The chair baelr may be adjusted to permit the user to sit erect or to be partly reclined, so that the chair may be used both at meal time and for permitting the infant to rest. 1 The chair is extremely sturdy and the and is unable to extricate himself therefrom legs thereof have suflicient spread to cause the chair to stand firmly on the floor, thereby preventing overturning due to the antics of the user. By means of the slats connecting:

the tray arms and seat and the strap positioned between the legs of the infant, the infant is firmly confined within the chair substantially in a comon plane or to be arranged in diverging relation, a seat pivoted to one of said frame sections, a member on the other frame section for supporting said seat, atray pivoted at one end to the second frame section and adapted to be supported at its other end upon the first named frame section, and a back rest pivoted to said second named frame section in proximity to. said seat support, said back rest being adaptedto swing awayfrom the upperportions of said frame pair of frame sections hingedly connected tosectionand toward said tray, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

2. A folding high chair comprising a gether intermediate their ends adapted to be folded substantially in a common plane or to be arranged in diverging relation, a seat pivoted' to one of said frame sections, a member on the other frame section for supporting said seat, a tray pivoted at one end to the second frame section and adapted to be supported at its other end upon the first named frame section, and a back rest pivoted to said second named frame section in proximity to saidseat support, said back rest being adapted to swing'away from the upper portions of said frame section and toward said tray, a foot rest pivoted to one of said frame sections and adapted to extend outwardlv therefrom into a position below said seat, said foot rest and back sections being'adapted to fold in the common plane of said frame sections'and said tray and seat being adapted to fold on opposite sides of said frame sections and to lie substantially parallel to the common plane thereof, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

3. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections, each including a pair of spaced uprights, said uprights being hingedly connected intermediate their ends to permit said frame sections to be folded into a common plane or to be extended in crossed relation, one

of said frame sections being longer than the other, a seat pivoted to the shorter frame section and adapted to swing between the uprights thereof, a support secured to the longer frame section directly opposite said seat for holdin the same in horizontal position, a pair 0 arms pivoted to the uprights of said longer frame section and adapted to rest upon the uprights of said shorter frame section, a tray secured to said arms, said arms straddling said longer frame section and adapted to swing over the upper end thereof, a back rest pivoted between the uprights of said longer frame section above the seat support thereof, and a foot rest pivoted between the uprights of said longer frame section below the seat support thereof, said foot rest and back rest being adapted to be extended outwardly in operative position or to be folded back into the plane of said longer frame section between the uprights thereof, said arms having the pivots thereof offset from the plane of said tray and said seat having the pivots thereof offset from the plane of said folded frame sections to cause said tray and seat to be folded to either side of said frame sections when collapsed so as to lie in planes substantially parallel with the common plane of said frame section, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

4. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections, each including a pair of spaced uprights, said uprights being hingedly connected intermediate their ends to permit said frame sections to be folded into a common plane or to be extended in crossed relation, one of said frame sections being longer than the other, a seat pivoted to the shorter frame section and adapted to swing between the uprights thereof, a support secured to the longer frame section directly opposite said seat for holding the same in horizontal position, a pair of arms pivoted to the uprights of said longer frame section and adapted to rest upon the uprights of said shorter frame section, a tray secured to said arms, said arms straddling said longer frame section and adapted to swing over the upper end thereof, a pair of slats pivoted to said arms and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom and toward said seat, and loops formedon said seat for the reception of said slats for fencing the space between said frame sections above the seat, said slats being adapted to be folded upon said tray upon the collapsing of said chair, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

5. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections pivoted to one another and adapted to be folded into a common plane or to be extended outwardly in crossed relation, a seat pivoted to one of said frame sections and extending across the same, a tray pivoted to one of said frame sections and supported upon the other, a strap secured to said tray,

a fastener attached to the end of said strap, a complemental fastening member secured to said seat for engagement with said strap fastener for holding the tray immovable relative to said seat when in extended position, and a second complemental fastening member secured to said seat for engagement with said strap fastener when said chair is in collapsed position, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

6. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections pivoted to one another and adapted to be folded into a common plane or to be extended outwardly in crossed relation, a seat pivoted to one of said frame sections and extending across the same, a tray pivoted to one of said frame sections and supported upon the other, a strap secured to said tray,'a fastener attached to the end of said strap, a complemental fastening member secured to said seat for engagement with said strap fastener for holding the tray immovable relative to said seat when in extended position, and a second complemental fastening member secured to said seat for engagement with said strap fastener when said chair is in collapsed position, an eye attached to said tray through which said strap is threaded for taking up the slaclr in said strap due to the positioning of said fastening members, said strap extending through said eye when attached to one of said fastening members and being removed therefrom when attached to the other fastening member, and means for holding the parts in extended position.

7. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections, each including a pair of spaced uprights, said uprights being hingedly connected intermediate their ends to per mit said framet section to be folded into a common plane or to be extended in crossed relation, one of said frame sections being longer than the other, a seat pivoted to the shorter frame section and adapted to swing between the uprights thereof, a support secured to the longer frame section directly opposite said seat for holding the same in horizontal position, a pair of arms pivoted to the uprights of said longer frame section and adapted to rest upon the uprights of said shorter frame section, a tray secured to said arms, said arms straddling said longer frame section and adapted to swing over the upper end thereof, a strap secured to said tray intermediate the forward and rearward edge thereof, an eye attached to said tray near the rearward edge, said strap being adapted to be threaded through said eye, a fastener attached to the end of said strap, a complemental fastening member secured to the underside of said seat in proximity to the pivotal connection thereof adapted to cooperate with said strap fastener for hold.-

ing said tray immovable relative to said seat,

said tray and seat being adapted to be swung on either side of said frame sections when folded into their common plane, a second fastening member secured to said seat and adapted to coope ate with said strap fastener when said strap has been removed from said eye to hold said structurein collapsed position.

81A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections hingedly connected together intermediate their ends adapted to be folded substantially in a common plane or to be arranged in diverging relation, one of said frame sections having the upper portions thereof extending rearwardly beyond the rearward portion of the other frame section, a tray pivoted to said rearwardly extending portion, a seat carried in part by said rear wardly extending portion and in part by the other frame section and a back rest pivoted to said rearwardly extending portions, said back rest being movable from a substantially vertical position to an inclined position, and means for holding the parts in adjusted position.

9. A folding high chair comprising a frame structure including a pair of frame members adapted to be folded into collapsed or extended position, a seat pivoted to one of said frame members, a tray pivoted to the other of said frame members, and a foot rest carried by said frame structure and adapted to be moved in the plane thereof when in collapsed position, said tray and seat being foldable in the collapsed position of said frame structure to overlie said foot rest onopposite sides thereof.

10. A folding high chair comprising a pair of frame sections hingedly connected togetherintermediate their ends and adapted to be folded substantially in a common plane or to be arranged in diverging relation, a seat pivoted to one of said frame sections and supported on the other, the other of said frame sections extending in marked inclined relation rearwardly with respect to said seat, and a back rest pivoted to said other frame in proximity to said seat support, said back rest being adapted to occupy an inclined position substantially Within the plane of the frame section to which it is pivoted or to occupy a substantially vertical position rising immediately upwardly from the rear end of said seat, and means for holding the back rest in either of its extreme positions.

11, A folding high chair comprising a frame-structure including a pair of frame members adapted to be folded into collapsed or extended position, a seat pivoted to one of said frame members, a tray pivoted to the other of said frame members, and a foot rest carried by said frame structure and adapted to be moved in the plane thereof when in collapsed position, said tray and seat being foldable in the collapsed position of said "frame-structure t0 overlie said foot rest on iopposite'sides thereof, and means for securing said ti ayand seat to One another when the chair is in collapsed position for holding said foot rest' therebetween.

. "Intestiinony whereof We have affixed our 7 signatures to this specification.

CHARLES. J. HUGHES. HARRY A. WHITING. SADIEJ. MAHER. 

